Question 1

Which of the following best describes the function of endospores in Bacillus anthracis?

Accepted Answer

Endospores enable the bacterium to survive extreme environmental conditions such as heat, desiccation, and chemicals.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a major class of organic compounds found in microbes?

Accepted Answer

Silicates

Question 3

What is the general formula for carbohydrates found in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

$$(CH_2O)_n$$

Question 4

Which functional group is present at the end of an aldehyde molecule?

Accepted Answer

$$C=O ($$carbonyl group) at the terminal carbon

Question 5

Which of the following polysaccharides is the most abundant on the planet and serves as a major structural macromolecule in plant and algal cell walls?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose

Question 6

A bacterial capsule is primarily composed of which type of biomolecule, and what is its main function?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrate; aids in adhesion and protects from the immune system

Question 7

Which of the following statements about lipids is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Lipids are primary components of cell membranes and are nonpolar.

Question 8

Why are saturated fats typically solid at room temperature?

Accepted Answer

Their straight chains allow them to pack tightly together.

Question 9

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of unsaturated fatty acids compared to saturated fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds, causing kinks and preventing tight packing.

Question 10

Which lipid structure contains fatty acids linked to a long-chain alcohol instead of glycerol?

Accepted Answer

Wax

Question 11

Which of the following is a function of proteins in microbial cells?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing chemical reactions as enzymes

Question 12

Which two functional groups are present in all amino acids?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyl ($$-COOH) $$and amino ($$-NH_2$)

Question 13

Which level of protein structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain?

Accepted Answer

Tertiary structure

Question 14

What happens to a protein when it is denatured?

Accepted Answer

It loses its shape and function due to environmental changes such as temperature and pH.

Question 15

Which of the following is a conjugated protein?

Accepted Answer

A protein combined with other organic molecules such as carbohydrates or lipids

Question 16

Which of the following correctly pairs the nitrogenous bases in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Adenine with Thymine, Cytosine with Guanine

Question 17

Which of the following is a difference between DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA is double-stranded, while RNA is single-stranded.

Question 18

Which molecule provides more energy for a cell: ATP or ADP? Explain using the hydrolysis reaction.

Accepted Answer

ATP, because hydrolysis of ATP to ADP releases energy: $$ATP + H_2O ightarrow ADP + P_i + 	ext{energy}$$

Question 19

What is the difference between a nucleoside and a nucleotide?

Accepted Answer

A nucleoside contains a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base; a nucleotide contains a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.

Organic Molecules and Their Importance in Microbial Life

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